Sep 10, 2023

Get Your On Camera Confidence Here

Quick tips to become more comfortable and charismatic on camera.

Got a quick minute? If you need help getting ready for your next video appearance, I've got some helpful, practical tips for you right now.

Maybe you'll be speaking on behalf of your company. Perhaps you're prepping for an on-camera interview. Or possibly you have an important Zoom presentation scheduled soon. If you're at all nervous or unsure how to speak to the camera and own the virtual room ... well, check out this video series.

Even the camera-shy can be dynamic on camera with a little guidance from an industry pro.

A young woman tilts her head slightly back as she breathes deeply with closed eyes. — Try some basic physical and breathing exercises.

Learn to relax on camera

I get it. If you're not used to speaking in public or addressing the camera, it can be downright scary, especially if you know a lot of people will be watching you live or in a replay. Even worse, things in the digital world have a way of hanging around forever, which doesn't exactly help to put your mind at ease.

Relaxing for the camera may sound like an impossibility, but it's something you CAN achieve. As a former business gal turned actress, I've learned all the professional tricks, tips, and techniques that can help you look like a pro, too. And guess what? They're not hard. That's why I can teach a few of them in a minute or so.

A young man holds a camera to the viewer, checking his shot in the viewer. — Intimidating? It doesn't have to be.

Understand the power and limitations of the lens

To do well on camera, it's useful to know its strengths and weaknesses so that you can use them to your own best advantage. How do you fit a 3D person (you) into a 2D Zoom box and still convey all your personality and uniqueness?

I talk about how to address the camera so that your viewers feel like you're speaking one-on-one to them. How to work within the frame of the camera's lens and avoid many amateur mistakes. And what equipment you need if you'll be recording your own videos and how to use them.

When you learn to play to the camera, your videos will become so much more interesting to watch.

An interested audience listens intently to an unseen speaker. — A little dynamic delivery technique goes a long way.

Discover how to keep your viewers glued to your live or recorded virtual appearance

When you're speaking to a group of people in person, you can usually tell from their expressions when they're bored, confused, or distracted by something else. Not so easy in a Zoom call if the viewers' cameras are off or if their little boxes are not appearing on screen at all. Certainly not if you're in a recorded video that people can watch later at their leisure.

There's no guarantee that you can keep viewers watching from start to finish, but you CAN significantly increase the odds with a few tips on dynamic delivery. Learn how to minimize verbal fillers like "um" and "you know" and how to play with pace, tone, volume, and intended pauses. Quick tips that can help you become a more fluent, interesting speaker, both on camera and in person.

Here’s a sample:

Want to see some more? They’re all on YouTube, along with my other long and short video series. If you find them helpful, consider subscribing. You'll be notified as each new one becomes available. And it'll only take a minute or less per video.

Laura's Quick Tips

Physical movement and basic breathing exercises can greatly help you relax in front of the camera.
When you learn to play to the camera, your videos will become so much more interesting to watch.
Vary your speech patterns and play with your delivery to add interest, excitement, and a little drama to your presentation.